Quotes From Williamson, Krul And Pardew On Newcastle Win

Mike Williamson insists that Newcastle can still qualify for the European Champions League next season, following our 2-0 victory over Liverpool yesterday.

Mike Williamson marking Andy Carroll yesterday
A second Papiss Cisse brace of goals in successive games for Newcastle, left us level on 53 points with Chelsea.

Newcastle are in sixth place in the Premier League, five points behind Arsenal in third place, and now a full 11 points ahead of Liverpool in 8th place.

Mike Williamson said this of Sunday’s win:

“It’s massive, it keeps the momentum going and the dream alive of as high a finish as possible”

“If we keep playing like that and working hard then anything’s possible.”

Newcastle’s Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul, who has conceded only one goal in the last three games, paid some compliments to Williamson and James Perch in central defense, and James again played great for the Magpies.

This is what Tim said:

“Williamson and Perchy were outstanding, they blocked everything – I didn’t have to make a proper save today.”

“Cisse is a fantastic striker, a proper goalscorer. He’s a typical number nine for Newcastle and I’m happy we signed a top-class player like him.”

The returning Andy Carroll’s miserable day – a very miserable day in truth, started when he was booked for diving, as he tried to round goalkeeper Tim Krul in the penalty area.

And it ended with the former Newcastle number 9 being booked, and then after 79 minutes he stormed off and down the tunnel ripping his Liverpool shirt off in the process, after being substituted.

This is what Tim Krul said about Carroll’s diving incident after 10 minutes:

“I never touched him,”“He dived. He was looking for a penalty which all strikers try and do, but the referee was in a good position and he made the right decision.”

And on the first half possible hand-ball by Danny Simpson, which could have cost Newcastle a penalty and a sending off, this is what Newcastle manager Alan Pardew had to say about that one:

“It hit Simpson high on the shoulder, I’d be very surprised if the referee gives that – it’s not a hand sticking out, I thought it was fine.”

And was Papiss offside for that second goal?

Of course not – but it didn’t stop the TV commentators from trying to prove it was offside throughout the game, and this is what Alan Pardew had to say about the possible offside:

“That little touch, by that time the Liverpool player is level and he’s onside,” “It’s a rule none of us managers like but that’s how it is.”

And finally Alan tells us what they had to eat last Friday, as Pardew tries to put things on the menu for our players from the different parts of the world.

And it happened to be curried goat for Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba, that all the players and coaches ate for Friday lunch.

This is what Alan said about that:

“We all had curried goat on Friday and delicious it was too. It was Africa Day and we enjoyed it. The curry helped!”

“It was Cisse’s best performance yet for us.” “We have the new No.9 but I felt for Andy today,” “He is a terrific lad and has had a tough year.”

“But from our side of the coin we have Cisse and long may his form continue. His hold-up play gave Carragher a tough day.” “Two great goals, fantastic finishes and Cisse’s all-round performance was excellent.”

“If someone said we’d be in the Europa League after this season, I would snap their hands off.” “We have won three out of three now, and with seven games to go, we have Swansea away next. We are in good shape.”

“Hopefully we will get enough points to get into Europe.”

Papiss Cisse is fast making a name for himself with 7 goals in 7 appearances for the Magpies. And we put out an article this morning on his goal-scoring prowess at the other clubs he’s played for, and he has 122 goals at the rate of about one goal every two games, in his 247 appearances.

That’s about what Alan Shearer managed throughout his career at Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle, with an amazing 379 goals in 733 total appearances.

anyone else notice yesterday how “in it together” our team all looked yesterday? noticed it before the game in the warm up, all smiling laughing with each other, when we scored they all celebrated, when players were subbed off they were gracious, shook all the hands of the benched players etc compared to liverpool that were arguing with each other on the pitch, didn’t look like a team etc

bit mean on my own part, but yesterday i was particularly happy that Andy Carroll got to witness our new number 9 in all his glory! Bet he felt like an ex girlfriend that had just seen her ex boyfriend turn up with a reet stunner!

Came on here today totally ready to give it all “I told ya so” to all the neggars that said that Pards was a muppet, tactically inept etc but then I thought to myself, no, all these people are probably gutted at how catastrophically wrong they have got it that they won’t even come on here to read it. So what would be the point!

What a win yesterday, in terms of significance to our season, I think that one was even bigger than the 3-0 victory over Manure, but only just!

Hatem looks a real gem of a player, kudos to Pards for playing the waiting game with him, it is really coming to fruition now. Graham Carr is a genius for spotting half of this team! Papisto, Demba, Cabaye, Tiote…truly magnificent performance by all involved.

Williamson and Perch, our 3rd and 4th choice CBs were the 2 best players on the park (followed closely by Papis, HBA and Tiote) and I am just so proud of those 2 lads, for all the stick they have received they have remained professional and focused on the job in hand. Buzzin

the positivity coming out of the club, team trying world meals together, soemething i’ve never seen before. and to get perch and willo to a level where they believe and can nullify suarez and bellamy, and somewhat carroll is great man management by pards.

and the next four, swans, bolton and stoke, then wigan are all winable. i doubt chelsea would win their next four. we win all them then the chelsea game will be massive!

and we’re gonna be getting some top quality players this summer. pieters seems tied up. but one more defender and a winger/striker. i’d be happy with hoilett and mbiwa.

@GHOSD yeah you know the pardew haters will come out in force again if we lose 1 or 2! Manager of the season for me bar none! People talk about rodgers and lambert, sorry but in the winter and summer, pardew had his team dismantled! They at least could build on the success they had in the championship, Pardew had to start from scratch! Also, the job of toon manager, the pressure, etc is far greater than at norwich or swansea, the media attention (and bias, or lack of it) is far more intense not to mention he has to work with Llambias as a boss! Not to mention, we are going to finish miles ahead of swansea and norwich! The only manager possibly that deserves manager of the year more could be sir alex if man utd win the title! For them to beat city, after they spent so so much money and were so far ahead will be a true achievement!

I enjoyed the humbling of Carroll & co. as much as anybody else. Starting to wonder if the ‘Carroll dive’ was maybe a sub-conscious thing where he did not want to actually score and by getting a penalty somebody else could actually score the goal/ Of course that could be Freudian cr*p and the donkey tripped over his own feet!

Some were even touting us as possible relegation fodder, or at best struggling to break into the middle of the pack. I remember in the January of 2010 that Lawro had said on Football Focus that Newcastle would be relegated if we sold Andy Carroll, he was wrong. Pre-season he claimed we would struggle because we sold Nolan and Enrique (followed by Barton) he was wrong again.

Not only have we not struggled, we have flourished, Pards has shown that he can play multiple formations that he feels are most suited to the players he has at his disposal and has got the best out of players who supposedly had no real future at NUFC, Perch, Raylor etc and has re-energised our technical maestro. Alan Pardew has restored pride and belief in NUFC once more and the term “greatest manager since Sir Bobby” has been bandied about more often than not. The fact that people are mentioning him in the same light as the late great Bobby only goes to show how good a job he has done.

In the last 7 games he can take an excellent season and turn it into a miraculous season…for me, whatever happens between now and the end of a season is a bonus

Ibiza Seriously mate, if Optimism Valley’s Brain Trust were tasked with job of scripting the “Perfect Scenario” of how that game could have went I don’t think we could have even come up with a result and performance as sweet as the one we witnessed yesterday!

The only way that could have been made any sweeter would have to be if Papisto nailed his third goal against the scumbag Enrique… but I’ll take that result 7 days a week, 365 days a year

Did anyone see the incident in the second half when Suarez went down holding his face? From what i saw Gutierrez was running away from Suarez, put his arm out to shield the ball, pushed him in the chest and Suarez went down holding his face, obviously trying to get gutierrez sent off. I havent seen a reply though but for all those having a dig at Perch should also have a dig at Suarez.

Watched the Spurs-Swansea game yesterday and I thought that Swansea were unlucky, although they do have an Achilles heel in the way they defend set pieces, so perhaps we could exploit that.

If we continue with this 4-3-3 formation, which has yielded our 2 most impressive performances this season, then the away game to Swansea could be a very open game of football, much like the game was yesterday. What is patently clear is that we need Tiote to do what Parker did to their midfield yesterday and seriously press them and press them hard. If we squeeze their midfield we could break them down and hit them on the counter

Ruddy @27. I watched the game also, Spurs constantly disrupted their passing game by hastling and harrying them which a couple of teams have done recently. We are quite capable of doing the same with perfect front 3 to catch them on the break.

@geoff777
Well, obviously he understands his own situation if u read his interviews throughout the season.
I reckon he’s in the same mindset as Perch. “I’d be crazy to leave here now”.
Also, there’s the contract extension he’s signed recently. It’s been a good season for him, but we’ll always be looking to improving, and as u say, i reckon Raylors first team chances will be severly limited next season.

Especially if we permanently adopt the 4-3-3 formation. More or less atleast. I think Raylor knows he’s regarded as a squad player.

Based on the last few weeks I think it’s disrespectful to call Perch a squad player. If he can keep this level up he’ll be in contention as a starter, either at CB with Collo or more likely due to Willo’s height advantage at LB. Santon on at 60-70 mins.

@ToonTom
Yes, i think u’re right. Perch and Raylor knows their limitations. Guthrie i rate higher then them overall. Altho Perch is probably the best of the lot atm.
I feel Guthrie deserves to be in a starting XI, he’s good enough to do that. Imo, he could walk straight into all the teams below the top 6.
On his day, he’s good enough for England, but i don’t think he’s consistant enough to manage that.
I still remember his Villa game… WoW!

Perch and Raylor are both humble lads, but if they’re severly limited next season, then i could see them leave next summer instead. It all depends.

yeah raylor will definitely be a squad playrt. but what a versatile guy to have at our disposal. next season i predict obettan to come good. vuckic and fergy getting some appearances off the bench and maybe abeid too.
in the summer we’ll make some fantastic signings to push the squad forward and youngsters good enough to keep the pressure on our subs bench

@dannyo. guthrie wont make the england squad while employed by us. whomever selects the team always seems to think football ends in manchester/liverpool and london.
we are treat with general distain and as basically a novelty by southern managers and press and pundits genrrally never rate us

I’m not convinced that Santon will be given the RB birth and that’s IF we sign a LB – we may focus on CB, CM and CF given the next seasons absence of Tiote, Ba and Cisse to ACoN.

Simpson doesn’t get a lot of credit but I think he’s a decent no nonsense defensive RB who doesn’t stray out of position – is it 6-7 goal line clearances now?

With Santon, Perch Raylor not to mention Jonas able to play LB Pardew may prioritise other areas first. I’ve never heard a peep about playing Santon at RB. Don’t get me wrong I’d like to give him a go there or even on the wing but don’t think it will happen.

Spuggy -“Simpson doesn’t get a lot of credit but I think he’s a decent no nonsense defensive RB who doesn’t stray out of position”

Er..no. He’s a good rb but that is exactly what his game lacks – tends to let the blood rush to his head and surge forward – I recall a number of occasions when I saw HBA getting ready to do a couple of players for the umpteenth time, and the collective gasp around me as they saw simpson stranded in their penalty area – nobody to cover behind except Cabs and Guthrie. Not good imo. If he got this under more control he’d be about right.

My final word on AC – got nothing really against the lad, well right up to the diving antics, but he wouldn’t have been wondering where his next meal came from if he had stayed, would he?

I looked at the team at the start of the game and Saw Enrique and Suarez attacking Ben Arfa and Simpson and was worried, but they never got in down that side. HBA always tracked, Simpson was strong and when either of them wanted to cut inside, Tiote was a brick wall.

Really like this system. Both goals came from HBA picking the ball up on the half way line due to his tracking. He even tracked back better than Demba.

Funny simpson wasn’t in there penalty area when he cleared six balls of the line saving us in probably 4-5 matches. He’s not world class but you could do a lot worse. Santon is caught out of position way more – fair do’s he’s still adapting.

Rotonda – Give it a rest you’re boring me now. Our 442 suited us PERFECTLY the first 11 games, we lost Tiote, Collo, Saylor then the ACoN came along. This is the first time Pards has had all the players needed to play 433 with tiote and cabaye back together and now that Cisse is the front man Ba can play wide left. We simply didn’t have the quality of players and movement before so no, Pardew hasn’t just seen the light. Arfa has improved a lot. Why? Because now he knows if he doesn’t put the graft in, and play more to percentages then he’ll be dropped. Supreme handling by pards.

Can’t beleive my eyes that some are still critical of Pardew – the guy is a bloody miracle worker along with his staff.

It’s time for players stalling contract renewals to have a little think about other players who have done the same the past 2 seasons. We are on the up and there are players wanting to come to this new feel Newcastle side. Anyone in any doubt just needed to look at our ex-players faces on Sunday.

I disagree, the “justified earlier criticism” was not justified. If you listen to Pardew’s interview after the game yesterday he has explained the HBA situation, he needed extra attention to focus his mind on what was expected of him for the benefit of the team. While he was getting himself up to speed AP had to play a formation that he felt would get us results. That was a 4-4-2 and it managed to get us results that propelled us to 6th in the league.

Ever since HBA has come to the fore we are now able to play the formation that AP has probably always wanted to play. Any criticism of this team, our tactics or our manager were certainly not justified and I would wager that many would agree with me.

Best atmosphere of the season at St James’ Park yesterday, less hostile than against that Wearside bunch, more positive towards our team and of course the brilliant taunting of Enrique!
We need more of that positive support in the ground, you can tell the team enjoy it and we’re starting to get home decisions as everything is met with a wall of noise!
Good work Geordie boys….

Yea some of HBA assists and goals came from him running from inside the half. That boy has some fantastic acceleration. Not pace i’m talking about, but his small frame allows him to accelerate in short distance so quickly even Enrique who has fantastic pace can’t match up with his acceleration.

Rotonda…I can agree that at the beginning everyone was entitled to be wary of Pardew as manager. But on the basis that he was playing a 4-4-2 as a reason to call him a bad manager is crazy. There have been some frustrating games, there always will be. From day one the signs have looked good and that we’re a team in progress, still collecting points along the way. I still feel the stick Pardew has received is well over the top and certainly not justified…just my opinion

Paying Ba, Cisse and Arfa as a front three is IMO one of the main reasons we’re now able to play a 433. Take Cisse away, then what are you gonna do? Shola, Ba and Arfa. Don’t think so – you’d play 442.

I dobt admire Pardew as I said a few times, but this 4-3-3 with HBA is a good choice, and once i feel AP did something good . Dont know if Santon and HBA could have been as good as now if they were playing all season from the start, maybe we could be even closer to the CL start. Mainly I think we got a really good squad , and I see even more potencial in them. How much is APs work i dont know, but must give credit for the table position we have. Maybe even Pardew could have developed trow the season.

4-3-3 suits tiote and cabaye as well as the front 3! Cabaye is looking a better player in the last 3 games! A good attacking leftback ( would love to see shane ferguson getting a run) and davide santon remembering how to defend at right back and we’d be lethal going forward! Also think 4-3-3 would suit fringe players like sammy ameobi (currently injured i know) and Gabriel Obertan! The only player i struggle to fit in is jonas (maybe right back?)

szarka – not being funny mate but pardews treatment of ben arfa is why we’re getting this hard working little magician and not the liability that played against blackburn and chelsea! Pardew deserves all the credit that goes his way, ive watched benny at lyon, and marseille, i never thought he could be this kind of team player! Before he played for himself, pardew, carver or whoever has got him playing his ass off for the team!

Well we had 433 before, for example against Brighton and it didnt work because Hatem was trying to link up with Shola and Best, so really 442 had been the best option until now really. You cant really say it was a bad choice when that got us 6th and Ba 16 goals.

But now we have a front three who all can play the same type of football, its working a treat.

I hope Pardew has the balls to keep the 433 away at Chelsea and Man City and just match them up.

areet lads, a while ago somebody linked me with a site where you can download recent full matches from (newcastle 3-0 manu) wondering if anyone has the link cause i want sundays match for future enjoyment

i’ve also been thinking about this new 4-3-3, and what about this for bolton…and maybe even swansea (obviously replacing a cb for colo, imo williamson, when fit)

———————-Krul———————-

Simpson—–Williamson—–Perch—–Santon

————-Cabaye—–Tiote——————

——————-Ben Arfa———————

Gutierrez———–Cisse—————-Ba—-

i know benny has been playing really well out on the right, but since hitting full fitness we’re yet to give him a run out in his favourite role, i think he could really step up this time

Jay…I think Gutti played well in the center against WBA. Personally if our main defenders are back I’d drop Guthrie for Gutti as part of the middle 3 any day…but that’s me.

Szarka…Don’t think I’m bashing on you, but can I ask what you would have liked Newcaslte / Pardew to have achieved this season to make you admire him? I get the feeling from a lot of people as we’re not top 4 he’s not done a good enough job, which frankly is insane imo.

codarm – yeah some fans expectations are pure ridiculous! Would have taken 7th after watching that first game of the season with arsenal in a heartbeat! Think people need to judge pardew on the performances of players like ryan taylor, james perch,danny simpson, even danny guthrie! Our squad is the weakest in the top 7, we should be nowhere near the likes of spurs and chelsea! Watch chelsea for example, when they make a sub, they bring on didier drogba, or michael essien, or bosingwa, compare those 3 to ameobi, james perch and ryan taylor! Mike williamson has played half our games and i honestly can only think of 1 or 2 other premier league teams he would get a game at! Yet we’re still challenging for top 4! Pardew deserves a medal!

I love how people think being a manager is a simple case of choosing the players and the formation.

Pardew had to contend with the fans (who didn’t like him at all when he arrived), win the respect of the players, help himself and his players cope with the devastation of losing Carroll at the 11th hour, as well as Nolan, Enrique and Barton (who he was desperate to keep).

He then had to bring in on a budget a host of new faces and integrate them quickly into the squad and help them settle.

In addition on a daily basis he had to:

– ensure players are settled, motivate and instil confidence, especially when you don’t play them
– Employ the right blend of backroom staff
– Ensure the training regime and facilities is top notch (we couldn’t train for two winters before heating went in).
– Give them specific instructions about their role in any formation
– Research the other team thoroughly and point out their strengths and weaknesses, both to your team, and each team member.
– Bring in the right players who will gel with the team
– Do it at a bargain price in a competitive market
– Handle the media well
– Handle Derek and Ashley (no easy task) and convince them to spend money

In spite of these tremendous odds against, Pardew has kept us in the top 6 all season and we’re now looking solid for Europe or at least a top 6 finish. We have one of the best young squads for many a year, we’re financially sound and looking forward to an exciting summer.

Anyone who reads the above and sis still critical of Pardew wants there head checking. Has he always been right no – no one gets it right 100%, but he’s been right more often than not, and when he’s got it wrong he’s held his hand up.

Jay…The same fans would have taken 7th at the start of the season too. I understand there have been games we should have done better in and if we had we’d be higher up in the league and be looking at CL, but come on, there will always be “thrown” games. This season has been one hell of a success for us and a great platform to build from.

I’ve seen people saying that Chelsea and Liverpool will throw loads of money at their teams this season and we will struggle to get top 6 next season. Well both of those teams have constantly thrown money at their teams and we’ve managed it. The secret? One would have to be Carr, he’s finding gem’s left, right and center and I expect that will continue. The second for me is the team spirit Pardew has going through everyone (except maybe Ranger). If we can keep up with the “Big Clubs” for the next 3 seasons whilst sticking to the current system set by Ashely and Llambias, then would be the time to re-look at our aims, targets and approach. For now, we need to give it time

anyone think ashley/llambias deserve any credit?? I mean, 3 years ago they said this was there 5 year plan….and its obviously working! They brought graham carr to the club, and Alan Pardew! We’re possibly the most efficiently run club in the country and are performing on the field too! Success isnt just stopping at playing level! ive knocked ashley and llambias enough when theyve made mistakes, only fair we say fair does when theyre work pays off!

Do you think we could be worried about losing our best players this summer? I mean, we always have some star players, who’s ending up going to other top 6 teams. But now, we should without any problems be top 6, maybe 4 if thing get perfect.
– Ben Arfa is coming back to perfect form, and I can see top teams try to get to him, and Ba is world class, and we always hear roumors about top teams want him.
.. But if the qual to EL or CL, I don’t think we should be worried… Just me ?

Are people for real when they say Pardew could have had us in CL if he’d played more positively.

OMG.

Two seasons ago before this one we were in the championship. Everyone loses games they should have won, and wins games they should have lost. It’s called football.

You know that Pardew puts up the player stats for them all to see after every match, including how many metres they have all run – genius idea as if you’re letting the team down it’s their for all to see.

@jayphoto
Ofc they deserve credit.
Just as Perch or Guthrie does. They’re no different, it’s just a different scale of things.
But they’re far from done when it comes to mending their wrongs.
Perch and Guthrie are just players, these other two fellas run a dearly beloved club. Trust takes time mate.
But ofc, they deserve massive credit, and i think the real owner is really start to showing his side and intent of things.
I’m still sceptical towards DL.

AlwaysToon. Europe will help players want to stay, but not the board wanting big pay days for players. Unfortunately it’s part of the business. Well, maybe unfortunately isn’t the word. If we hadn’t have sold Carrol for huge money, we would not have the squad we have now.

It’s great that players are going to want to stay though and hopefully win some silverware!

Spuggy…that’s what I’m saying. Madness. I suppose you have it at all clubs, even ferguson has his head called for as they’re not top all season. These fickle people are not fans of the club, but success only. I think they have the order mixed up

don’t think the club would let ben arfa go! At the moment he is a 7/8m rated player! If he has a 6 months to a full season of hows hes played in last 6/7 games then he becomes a 20/30m player! Possibly the most naturally gifted player in the premier league, not many players can change a game on their own!

Agree with Dannyo. It will take time to gain the fans trust as they have handled themselves badly in the past, even if it was for the “best interest of the club”. However, it’s just wrong when people say he’s trying to ruin the club. The man has invested in it, if it fails, so does he. Seems pretty simple to me. Do I think he would rather profit or success at Newcastle? Before I would have said profit, now I think it’s a balancing act. With success, we will be a lot more profitable. Not too hard for a business man to figure out

Spuggy @74 that is a very good post. I would imagine there are even more tasks like charity functions etc. Obviously he doesn’t do all these jobs personally but has to delegate & supervise them which is why I think the term manager is much more appropriate than coach.

@87 in december ben arfa had no right to be in the starting line up! He made bad decisions and was a liability more than a couple of times! The coaching staff who work with him day in day out could see he wasnt ready yet! If he hadnt been held back for a bit it could have resulted in another injury, and i doubt we’d be seeing the form he’s in now!

@ Codarm…with tiote back in the line-up, it’s unnecessary to have Jonas play in the center….

I’m not sure whether Ba enjoys his new role in the squad. our new style of play means that Ba has to expend a lot of energy on the wing… whereas previously he just waited in the center for a ball to be hoofed in his general direction.

Ba scores typically from crosses into the box. our direct style of play now, with HBA cutting into the center of the box means that Ba has to play more technical football ….which he can do…but isnt his strongest attribute.

I cannot accept that assessment, you have just looked at the fixture list and picked parts where we went on a bad run and parts where we “picked it up” and stated declaring that now we are playing 4-3-3 and playing well that you were vindicated for criticising Pardew for the entire season!!

That is complete tosh sir and you know it. We played 4-4-2 in nearly every single game up until the West Brom victory last week! How do you explain that!? Luck!? Or was Pardew so tactically inept that he accidentally got us to 6th by playing 4-4-2?

That was the most outlandish theory I have heard…”Now we’re playing well our entire season of neggar whining and moaning has been proven to be justified” My God man. What is wrong with you?

Geoff @ 87 it is not quite as simple as you make out. We lost two of our key players in January to the ACON and only signed Cisse in January who could not play until returning from ACON. From memory I think Colo was out for a few matches and Cabaye got a suspension around the same time as well. You can’t honestly advocate a 433 with Shola, Best & HBA and a makeshift midfield and under strength back four.

On the subject of that 17 yr old lad Racially abusing Perch. I’m not surprised, their manager backed Suarez after he racially abused Evra, and ever since then their have been a couple of occasions where their fans racially abuse another player.

Fulham – Best and ameobi up front, no Tiote
Brighton – Best and Ameobi up front, No Collo or tiote
Spurs – no Tiote or Cabaye, spurs would have beat anyone that day
Wolves – no tiote, and we drew this game, didn’t loose

So you pick the 4-6 week period over the 5-6 good months, nice scientific approach there. Remember we didn’t have Cisse for the first half of the season.

You can’t reason someone out of a position they didn’t reason themselves into.

@geoff777
To be fair, quite a few of those bashing Pardew were calling for his head cause they didn’t think Pardew could take the club forward.
I can find a fair bit of quotes on that if u want.
But there a selected bunch who continuasly fueled this constantly on nearly every thread.

To be critical of Pardews tactic and selection, totally fair, so was i on several occations.
When i say “those who bashed Pardew”, it was those who i’ve quoted earlier in my post. I’m not gonna pick out names cause they are not here atm.

So i’m all up for selection debates and tactics and formation discussion, critisizm, or whatever it may be. What i have no toleranse for is people saying Pardew has come to his end, a year into the job, and has kept us top 6 all season.

OMG, the morons are still posting their delusions ogf negativity!!!! probably no point trying to convince or pursaude them anything really because if we aren’t challanging for the league title next season they will want him out, i don’t think Pardew can win with them whatever he does (unless he somehow by some miracle wins the league in the next couple of seasons), as they are just naturally negative people and can’t quite accept that keegan doesn’t manage us anymore

It just annoys me a bit when some people with a ”I know better than anyone else” routine jump on a bandwagon where we are now finally playing passing football and claim that all the people advocating playing a 4-3-3 with Benny in the front 3, didn’t have a clue. That’s a bit rich.

I would suggest that you are in fact being somewhat tedious, as in my post I said time to move on and enjoy it, however, which way we arrived at this new exciting formation.

@Spuggy
I’m starting to become a bit unsure about next season.
If we get to Europe, that will be probably have an effect on the squad performance in the league, most likely.
Will we be able to top or match this years achievements in the league? For me we should be able to push onwards really to do our best to push into the top 4.
I think Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will have a mighty rebuild to improve on what they’ve done bad this year.

But what i do look really forward to is those back 4 being pure quality, cause we build so many attacks from there.

1) This time 2 years ago we were playing in the Championship.
2) We currently do not have anywhere near the budget of the so called ‘Top Six’.
= what we have achieved this year is nothing short of remarkable.

I find statements like this tedious “Pardew was getting it wrong back then, he’s getting it right now, so there’s no issue.”

Your statement above. If you say pards got it wrong be prepared to back it up with facts. I agree with moving on I’m positive 9/10 and have always been an advocate or pardew. It’s negative people that irritate me, esp when we’re doing so well.

liverpool have a way worse squad..what do they have? suarez & skrtel..others are average.. but hba is better then suarez & colos better then skrtel..

even chelsea now..with all oldtimers..

& arsenal..goalkeepers are on the same level..our defenders are better..our midfield is better (tiote, cabaye, guthrie, perch vs. rosickey, diaby, song, arteta), but they MIGHT be better up front & thats only cos we have shola as a 4th forward & they have chemberlain..
van persie better the cisse..(for now..)
ba better then gervinho
hba vs. walcott..not even a contest..

based on names, performances & abilities our squad is 4th or 5th in the league.. but considering theyre playing their first season together ill be really happy with 6th..

I agree, we don’t want to over trade. If we make it into Europa it will put a strain on a thin squad – we’ve struggled to cope at time and we’re out the cups and not even in Europe.

If we do make it, I hope Ashley gives Pards and the staff the backing they deserve to get us the 4-5 players we need for Europe. The brand recognition will do Ashley no harm at all and he’s a good business man so I’m sure he will recognise the opportunity.

Think we’re getting stuck on the semantics of it all instead of focusing on the substance of the point at hand.

Rotnonda

I couldn’t care less if we played 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-5-1, 4-3-3, 4-4-2 Diamond, 5-4-1 etc as long as we got results.

I also couldn’t care if we played slick football, boring football, hoofball, short-ball, attractive football, or tedious football as long as it got results.

I also couldn’t care if we played Ameobi at right back, Simmo up front or Lovenkrands as a ball boy as long as it got results.

Football is a results business and for me personally, Pards has got results which in my eyes makes him our “Special One”

I also agree with you that we should be sitting back and enjoying this period of slick, passing football, but just bear in mind that sometimes needs must and in order to get results a more defensive minded approach is necessary.

And finally, I don’t think people here who support Pardew adopt a “We know more than you” philosophy, I think we adopt a more “Pards knows more than you” philosophy. Which I think a lot of us adopt.

@Spuggy
I hope we get there, and i think MA will give some extra backing, but to an extent. But continusily getting into Europe will be the challenge. We need that stability. After 2-3 years, the big sponsors will come, and then we can mount a serious challenge.

Here here. If we’re going to move on people should stick to the present not the past – why say pardew got it wrong in the past (which I disagree with btw), just say he’s doing brilliantly now and we’re playing some great stuff AND winning.

Pardew was having a great season even when we had a few periods where we did not pick up results. Man U lost at home to Blackburn and look at them now. Better example are Arsenal this season.

Major difference at present is the confidence is returning and we are playing more forward passes rather then the ball quickly heading back to Krul, we all know what happens next!

Really enjoyed watching game saturday as instead of grinding out results we are starting to play the passing football like at the start of the season.

Still think a few player could get even better before end of season too.

Next season is going to be even harder. The expectation is rising and fast. Probably we will start to pay higher fees for players (happy with buying strategy of past few windows). The squad we have will be even better next season as long as we don’t sell anyone as most of the players are u30.

Need to keep momentum going against swansea. Shame our goal difference is so low. Could be a factor at end of season

Before the Norwich game posters on here were calling for Pardews head. We were 6th at the time. Saying pardew got his tactics wrong. He is never going to get it right every match and he has had the decency to admit he got it wrong on a few occasions.

Anyway looking forward to exciting end to season and busy transfer window. Should be able to attract better calibre of younger now we are a force in the prem

Form league since start of 2012 was shown we’re third,behind the two Mancs,so if that’s getting it wrong Pards carry on sunshine,and as ford the mackems being better than us under o neill,well the form table doesn’t lie.

Guthrie could not command a regular place even in a team even if he moved. Too injury prone. Playing great football but usually stops around 75 minute mark. Don’t think he will stay on as knows he is lower than cabaye and tiote in pecking order. It will be a shame as he is very popular with the fans

“You cannot reason someone out of a position that they did not reason themselves into”

With that in mind, I really don’t think we are going to convince people that Pards has not “got it wrong” or “was tactically inept” etc These people are admitting now that the football on display has been excellent but still complain about where we “could have” been if it wasn’t for Pards’ ineptitude…

Simply put, these people are morons. I am sorry for using offensive terminology but I must call a spade a spade

Watch out for it and don’t be disappointed if Shola starts. He has been excellent in his cameos. When ball played to him he retains possession and brings others into play. My only gripe with Ba is that the ball bounces off him too much and he loses possession. Lately Ba has retained possession much better. All is forgiven though.. 16 goals and counting!!

I think its fair to say Nobody was thrilled with the appointment of Pardew, from the outset.
He didn’t have a great rep, and had been sacked from his 3 previous clubs for various reasons.
However we also need to accept that he was chucked in at the deep end when he was offered the job, and was on a very steep learning curve right from the off.
But bugger me rigid surely there cant be anyone left who doesn’t credit the fella with doing a fantastic job so far.
Sure he has made some gaffs and got things wrong, but he also been man enough to admit it and take it on the chin. That takes balls, but also earns him respect too. Not just from us fans, but also from his players.
I hope AP is our gaffer for the next ten years, if he can keep doing what he is doing now.
He works damm hard behind the scenes and is learning all the time.
I hope he gets acknowledged as Manager of the season for the outstanding work he is doing.

Use your intelligence and football knowledge and state categorically as to how Pards “got it wrong”?

As for the “OV Shite” seems like you are being pedantic and picking on small matters as you know your “football knowledge” is not as extensive as you may claim.

I can and will counter your negativity with intelligence and footballing knowledge, but first I seek assurances that it won’t be wasted on you.

The last time we had a debate you refused to answer my points because I did not include enough “white spaces”. Answer me this, whenever we were having that debate, were you using, as you aptly put it, “intelligence and footballing knowledge.”

That question was rhetorical as we both know that you weren’t.

So don’t criticise “the schoolboys with their name changes and OV shite” when 99% of the time you act like nothing but a spoilt brat and pathetic neggar.

Well you’ve all the white space you need, so there is something you can’t complain about.

Moron? That’s a bit strong Geoff, but I suppose you can’t criticise Alan Pardew anymore so you’ve got to aim your vitriolic tripe at someone, so I’ll just be the sacrificial lamb then shall I?

Grow up Geoff will you. If that is not, in fact, possible, try reasoning your responses like an adult.

Finally adults don’t spit the dummy and say they are leaving because they don’t like what is said, they stay and defend their points. It is easier to leave when your point is very hard to defend, usually being because it is wrong.

Geoff – well if you hadn’t gone dark when cornered on some of your negative points and come up with ‘all this white space sh*te’ maybe you wouldn’t be rounded on so easily.

The OV thing is a joke well beyond your capacity, ok I accept the fact you don’t connect with it’s irony and see it on face value, but prefer to see it as some kind of bullying tactic for the pro ashley/pro Pardew ‘gang’. But nobody has barred you from making your opinions and surely you can’t be typed away from this blog, so just contribute and stop being so antsy when people disagree, you’ll save yourself an ulcer.

Spuggy – if you’re still there, re: simmo, I detected a bit of exasperation when I suggested he does surge forward and sometimes leaves the back exposed, you countered with his goal-line blocks. OK yes, fine, but he’s not always there, especially when one of our forward runs breaks down, I can post many screenshots of his positioning when we’ve been caught on the break. It’s probably been asked of him and Santon to do this, but this is not good in my view – I can remember the last fantastic cross simmo got in, and it was in the championship. Santon is probably worse still and this can be lack of experience. I think this aspect of our team shape is the last-ish piece of the jigsaw and if sorted out we will be even better.

im trying to get tickets for the newcastle v bolton game but i dont think theres enough time for the tickets to be shipped over.. does anyone know if you’re able to collect the tickets from st.james park on the day of the match??

I really don’t think anyone has tried to make this OV thing intellectual. It is merely a joke that we carried on. It’s only meant to a representation of fostering a more optimistic outlook on things. I believe Tsunki was being ironic by claiming it was beyond Geoff’s capacity.

I agree 100%. Simmo is not great going forward, but he’s not that bad a at defending. We don’t need screenshots. We know his strengths and limitation but the important point is he’s done a job for us this season, he is part if this success. I’d love to see us bolster the FB and provide more depth at CB, but I’m not sure it’ll happen at this stage of development. Here’s hoping!

Wow, I always thought that my overly optimistic approach to things would lead me to being labelled delusional but that mantle belongs to you Geoff. You do understand what vitriol means? It means cruel and bitter criticism.

You have been vitriolic in your approach to Pardew, in fact HBA’s performances in the last few games do not vindicate your assumption that HBA should have been played sooner, it vindicates Pards’ decision to NOT play him and make him work on his game.

Had AP listened to the likes of you HBA would not be working as hard and would not be putting in the kinds of performances that he has done against WBA and yesterday against Liverpool and that is a well held opinion here.

The OV thing was a joke man, it was a bit of fun. A few of us decided that we were fed up with the neggars running this blog. Because of bloggers like you and Indian, other positive bloggers like WWJBD have been posting less and less. I am not saying any blogger is better or worse than another it is just that with your tripe you are forcing positive people away.

Human nature draws us to positive people and if by forcing you to leave it brings people like WWJBD back then I will gladly accept that.

If too, you wish to engage in an intelligent discussion about our season and how it has went so far I will do so too, but it has to be reciprocated.

Like I said, I think Tsunki was being ironic. The OV thing is not hard to get and he was merely making a “tongue-in-cheek” comment. I don’t wish to speak on his behalf but I don’t think he meant that we are more intelligent than anyone. He may have been slagging off Geoff’s intelligence though.

@geoff777
I think u’re missing the bench here and walking down the tunnel instead.
Read post #36. I replied to your defense about critizising AP, but i never got a response from u.
I think that’s where the issue lies.

Is the concept of humour beyond you? People like cheick the toastie don’t like it either but they don’t use it as an excuse to stop posting on a blog about their football club.

For a few days it may have been a bit silly, but so what? Life needs a bit of light hearted banter sometimes. I will not bow to the negative pressures of you or anyone like you in trying to get me other like minded positive people to conform to your “no nonsense, serious all the time, hyper critical approach”

The OV banter has died down, we have maintained the name changes but does that impact upon the validity of what we say? Not in the slightest, my original name is Ruddy Marvauex-lous if you don’t like the name change just call me Ruddy for chrissake and stop acting like a child.

And will you comment about the football as you have been lamenting about in your previous post. You have yet to categorically state how Pards has “got it wrong” this season… I must say I cannot fathom how getting your team to 6th could possibly be described as “getting it wrong” but I look forward to your attempt

Sorry, spuggy if my ‘screenshots’ jab was a bit tinged with the ol’ tabasco but what I am trying to say is, Simmo has been an ever-present and has saved our necks – I think he may be pressed as part of our style to overlap, I am just trying to say that this is a weak point of his game, he accomplishes the actual overlap but very little product comes of it, and on some occasions in the past it has deeply exposed us and undone much of the good work he has done sometimes. I think that he is slowly getting to the point where he is being suitably conservative and more discerning about when it is wise to do so, which is good. Santon, on the other hand has much to learn to catch up with Simmo in his basic defensive game, so the running forward thing really has cost us in his case, ergo he is currently dropped.

We played an uncharacteristically weak-breaking Liverpool team, had we faced spurs on sunday I think Mr Bale would have assisted in a very different outcome against a free-running Simpson if he ended up in front of HBA as much as he did against the scousers. Imho of course.

I didn’t think it needed a reply, it didn’t seem to question my point at #35.

I’ve also actually watched a replay of the game and done a bit of work, I’ve also fed and watered my donkeys. So I haven’t been on this thread all day.

As to my intelligence – I’m a university educated computer programmer with an IQ tested at 148 & 150.
I don’t profess to be a statistical genius about football, but I try to be fair and just say what I think.

Geoff – yes I was just jangling you tinkling thing there. You are a bit of a biter though The top and bottom of it is, everyone is free to have a raging argument but when you want to slip something in that borders on irrational because you can’t bear to back down on a previously off-the-mark post, be prepared for the full buckshot blast of irony, digs and general jeering that will coe with it. I’ve had a dig at Pardew, Obertan and Guthrie I think in the past, but if I’ve been well off, and it gets pointed out, I will eat a large slice of that pie even without custard. It’s not hard, we don’t know where you live and you won’t get your house bog-rolled.

Box office is now in the shop near the strawberry I think the proper one is shut for the minute. Bolton shouldn’t be a sell-out normally but I dunno with present form it just might of a Bank Hols afternoon.

Plus additionally and also too – I was going to write a tirade on the subject of the very existence of this blog in particular, and how well-staffed and populated it is, but that’s for later, as I now have to drag my lardy butt round an all-weather footy pitch. sayonara, scrabble-dabblers!

@geoff777
Oh dear me, so sorry, i dunno why i directed u at that post.
I mean post #101.
I hope the intelligence argument isn’t aimed at me, as i have no hand in the current shit throwing.
Post #101 holds my reply on the “Pardew bashing”.

I can’t remember the last time boater posted either! He was a regular too.

At the start of the season the bashing was constant and interchangeable. First Obertan, then Simpson, then Perch, always Shola even until he scored against the Mackems the abuse he got was constant.

It just goes to show you that Negative Posters serve no purpose if their opinion is destructive. I can accept a negative opinion if it is a rationally thought out and reasoned argument, but if it is just criticism for criticism’s sake then it really grates on me.

We should make an urgent plea to get these people back! Although the way things are on this blog, if it is still negative even while we are doing amazingly I dread to think what it would be like if things went tits up…

@geoff777
Aye, i have no qualms about wether or when u replied or not mate.
I was simply saying that post #101 shows my view on the AP bashing. No one expects anyone to be on here all day. I’m certainly not, lol.
Enjoy Game of Thrones

I reckon atm we are the envy of many a club in not only in the Prem but the whole footballing world,full houses well in week out a great team spirit with an incredible work ethic and most important for the people in charge were in a healthy financial position,also for the first time in years we seem to be getting a lot more media attention for our on field antics rather than off,I can’t let my personal dislike for Mashley and Derek dastsrdly cloud my judgement that the club is definitely moving lb the right direction.

Some really good posts on both sides of the watershed – the one between optimism valley and the other place. What did Indian call it – something hole ?
Pity it degenerated into handbags at dawn.

I think the silver fox stands a very good chance of getting manager of the season. We stumbled after the Chelski game – but Saylor had been a rock for us, then Collo was out too and we lost forwards to ACON and guys went in and out of form. The real test of an outstanding manager is how he deals with the inevitable dips in team performance, form and confidence during a season. I was a bit concerned after the fiasco at Anfield despite some green shoots even in that game – but since then our form has almost matched Citeh and Manure, according to MOTD2, so we have pulled out of that poor patch.

The goat curry thing is a fantastic way of team building. I’ve consistently posted that AP was working towards a 4-3-3 so I’m feeling specially smug, but couldn’t have dreamed how well HBA is playing, and picking up counterattacks inside our own half, and how BA is playing to drag defenders out of position, and Cisse’s magic finish – these guys are still learning how to play together and will be stunning next season.

For those neggers who think Pardew’s got it wrong. Exactly who do you think could have done a better job for the Toon this season ?

Been reading some reactions from yesterdays game from the bindippers supporters. Also viewing some footages i didn’t see on telly.
I’d say Dalglish has lost his dressing room.
One more defeat and he’s toast.

well from what i have read today guys how on earth can is it that i still see people being negative with pardew this season. look if you want to speak any negativity it should be aimed not at pardew, the players or our owner and chairmen but aimed at the likes of sky because jeff stelling is the only one who seems to be giving praise to newcastle rather than coming up with excuses for the wins. Just face it this i only the second season back in the premier league since promotion and very rarely do teams do as good in the second year after promotion as they did in the first year.

this season our aim was 10th or higher so to get 6th is an astonishing achievement next season i would say the aim should be focus on league position and just 1 of the cups and wait till 2015-16 before thinking of an aim to get champions league as that is the season where we could have a squad big enough to contain cover and starting 11 plus that is when there won’t be a ACON to disturb team structure.

Can’t see Obertan getting much game time next season like, hopefully whatever midfielder we sign is comfortable on the right. Could do with two centre mids really. Two strikers, a LB and a CB, that’s without sales of first teamers.

I would rather we didn’t get personal on here with arguments.
People need to calm down when somebody disagrees with their opinion. Ideally we should debate not argue while pushing our opinion a fact.
Put the handbags away ladies. And i don’t like the term neggar either. Its a bit of a slur.

I’m sorry guys, but there are too many nice guys like GHOSD trying to be reasonable with idiots like Rotunda. There is no point in this. Reasoning with buffoons who think they know everything is pointless. And Geoff, for a guy with an apparently high IQ, you need a head shake. I mean, put simply, what the hell do you want or expect? No doubt, like nearly all managers, Pards will be sacked one day. And you will be on here , telling us how you were so right on this blog in 2012.

@spuggy. There is sometimes a mentality of never being happy.
The best way to look at things both ways. Talk about the good points and bad point.
We are doing brilliantly but where can we improve.
There is no perfect season for anybody. But this has been a great one.
Not having a go at you. I think im agreeing really

I just think some people are never happy….I don’t mind people saying this player is under performing our this guy could be replaced by better, etc….as this is true. We need to strengthen in certain areas.

What annoys me is when they criticize the manager for not picking a player they want and then almost take credit for his good performances when he is picked.

If Benny came back too early and wasn’t fully fit, tore his hamstring and was out for a couple months they would all complain we rushed him back.

There is much more to football than picking your 11 best players. You need to see what is available to you and pick a system that best suits the players you have available.

For example look at England….they constantly pick 11 players they think are the best and squeeze them into a formation that doesn’t work and wonder why we never win anything.

Pardew has used the squad which has been stretched to it’s limits and managed to consistently pick up points through out the season.

If we add the players we are rumoured to be linked with (or a similar style of player) we will be able to rotate our players and still play the same 4-3-3.

It took mancini 2 years to get City playing the good football they did this year. I remember last year they played defensive football and tried to win 1-0 most weeks, it got them champs league, they improved the squad and now play a much better, attacking brand of football.

@rich
that comment on England is priceless because its so true.
You need only look at the payers that get left out of the starting line up of some of the best international teams.
Yet for years we’ve been trying to force gerrard and lampard into the same underperforming team

They had a few individuals in an average team. These were carrick (at the time) and Berbatov. These 2 players were sold for 20 and 30 mil respectively and they used that money to get in Bale, Van der Vaart, friedel, modric, parker…etc.

We may have sold carroll but no doubt they money has been used well. If we sell Ba or Tiote (which i dont want to happen) we might do a similar thing again.

You might loose your best player but if that gets you 3/4 players of equal or slightly lower quality it improves the team as a whole.

I think we are building steadily and I can’t see many players wanting to leave come the summer and in fairness since we got back in prem league we have only sold:

MunsterMag I know I probably should not engage with these people but it does frustrate me a great deal, and I would like to tease out why these people decide to hold these misinformed views about the club and, more annoyingly, the manager.

These people are undoubtedly ‘purists’ that long to see the club play with the same reckless abandon that saw us dubbed the “Entertainers”. For anyone who thinks like this I would say to them, those days are gone and we have a new direction, a direction that we have lacked for a decade. Alan Pardew has not suddenly realised that he should play 4-3-3 and put HBA on the pitch, he has probably always wanted to do this, but for reasons we will not understand HBA was not ready and AP played the formation that best suited his other players and would get him the best results possible and he was spot on in doing so.

We are a work in progress and in our second season back in the Premier League we are on course for the best position since the heady heights of the days of SBR, if that does not make you proud of both your club and your manager then I do not know what else to tell you.

Pards makes mistakes sometimes, not often, but sometimes. He learns from them, corrects them and then gets us back on track. Our form in 2012 is bested only by the Manc clubs, something that is absolutely astonishing in my view.

Be proud of the season so far, look forward to the last 7 games with excitement and be hopeful for the future and stop dragging the rest of us down with your Negative Posting.

Thinking about our front three I can see marveaux coming in on the left to replace Ba when we do play with a lone striker. That leaves Cisse or Ba through the middle and the other on the bench which will be a great option to have. IF we make europe however having a big squad to cope with injuries and suspensions which is the one area we have struggled with a little being so light at centre back and short up front before Cisse arrived.

And remember this is the biggest team Pardew has managed and he has never been in this position with a team before.

He is learning all the time as well and will pick up things along the way to improve himself as a manager. He will feel the pressure and expectation of finishing in a European place and he is handling it well.

Well I just don’t understand why some people foster these views about AP. He has got results and got the best out of some seemingly ordinary individuals, as well as re-shaping the direction of the club in the long term.

Ah ghosd. Pardite and proud.
He’s always done the best he can with the team he has. Its really coming together now.
I still laugh at all those people who complained that kadar wasn’t in at the back against norwich. A guy who had not been near the first team since the championship season.
Some people are so unrealistic.

Good evening lads
I am over the moon.So proud of the boys. The highlight for me yday was not the performance or the result or the look in enrique’s face. It was the support. St james was rocking yday. We cheered every tackle every pass every dribble. I was so proud of the support. We are truely the most passionate without a doubt.

We have a really great squad to challenge higher and higher! We have two great goalscorers, only one backup as best is injured. One striker in the summer would be great. A young talented one. For the wings we have ben arfa, sammy ameobi, marveaux, jonas, obertan, fergie. I think we are good on the wings. Center mid we have Cheik and Cabaye starting. wether guthrie stays or not idk. We still have Dan Gosling, and mehdi abeid, michael richardson. I think Haris Vuckic is a center attacking mid. Then we have 3 center backs, willo , collo, and staylor who is my favorite player. We will need Douglas in this team, and a young one. We have Simpson at right back, wether tavernier stays or not as his contract is up idk. We certainly need a right back next year. I really really really hope we sign Erik Pieters. He is a starting left back and is successor to Giovanni Van Bronkhorst. I want him at starting left back. Then i hope santon goes to right back. Him and simmo can fight it out. Then we have a future legend in Tim Krul. I honestly love our squad! We have so much versatality. Ryan Taylor and James Perch, and Jonas for example. All we are missing is a center back, a wing back, and a back up striker. Then we have a side that will challenge the top 4 any day of the week….

Ruddy
Haha aye its a fair point Pards has done some pretty good things and seems to know his squad very well dont argue with that but he has made some mistakes which have annoyed me over time I cant lie. Easy to forget though that NUFC are the biggest club he has ever managed with a lot of fans with huge expectations and he was roundly disliked when he came in so hes done a fine job

MFH
Just wait til the transfer window lad tbf I have been called just about everything possible on here

That’s a minimum but I’d got with that for starters. Would also like to see another FB who can double as CB and good in the air as backup, though Perchino has proved a lot of us wrong the last three months.

Isn’t it great how Pards has managed to improve some of the squad players this season.?

Yea I hope we evolve in the way Spurs has.
Most of the money from the Caroll sale is now gone, so finishing as high as we can is important. We know that teams are given so much, depending on their league position.
We are going to have a fair bit from finishing sixth, and add to that a list of players i believe are due to leave at the end of this season:
Alan Smith 60,000
Lovenkrands 15,000
Guthrie 15,000
Gosling ?
Xisco 50,000
Nile Ranger 15,000
Leon Best?? perhaps leaving, 30,000
Simpson, 10,000 perhaps leaving.
That leaves a fair bit, and given there will be a bit of transfer fees received aswell, we should a fair bit to go in with during the summer. And with Graham Carr having said he’s been going to an average of two or three games a week, we must have a decent shortlist. All looking good so far.

Obviously we all want to see us strengthen through the summer (as I’m sure we will) but at the same time we’re all a bit nervous about top players leaving the club.

If someone were to say you could start the 2012/13 season with exactly the same squad, would you? Guaranteeing no departures, but no new arrivals? Or would you just trust Ashley & Co to pull off another decent window and wait and see who’s on our books come September?

Having said that I think we need a few signings.
LB, CM, CM, STX2, and perhaps a decent right winger. Without Hatem we could be weak on the right hand side, unless Obertan swaps his right leg with Valencia, and his left with Hatem. Berbatov for Newcastle would be great, and a young striker, maybe that Morata. Sell Leon Best, then that gives us five up front. Enough to cope with tournaments and injuries. And Shola for the sunderland games!

@249 Tino. Great question. The evolution of our transfer policy is very interesting, and of course in line with the reality of Uefa Fair play rules etc. At the moment we don’t have the revenues to pay the very high wages (Liverpool’s wage budget is double that of NUFC), but hopefully, this will change overtime. Right now, i think we have to be realistic and say that selling one our stars might be good business in the long run, regardless of how initially disappointed we may be. Until we get our revenues up to match the so called ‘top six’ we are still a selling club.
So in answer to your question, having the exact same line up for 2012/2013 means we have been stagnant in the evolution of our transfer policy, so no…i’d prefer us to sell if need be, and re-invest wisely.

In honor of two dedicated Newcastle fans, who lost their lives supporting Newcastle United, when their passenger jet was shot down over Ukraine on Thursday July 17th, 2014 by rebels, as they were traveling to support the team in New Zealand.

We will never forget them.

Fantasy League

Mark Harding has again set up the Fantasy League for our readers for this season.

The new code is 3641-1656 and people can set up the league here:

http://fantasy.premierleague.com

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Health Update - 4 Feb, 2015

I had another battery of medical tests early last week, and the results show my PSA count as undetectable, which means the prostate cancer is still under control, and there is no trace of cancer in the body.

I'm very pleased about that!

Ed Harrison

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What Is A Football Club?

“What is a club in any case?"

“Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.

It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes."

“It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city."

“It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.”